Chapter 7

Brielle and Lillian indeed grew up in the same orphanage and were as close as sisters.

They celebrated life’s little victories and consoled each other’s defeats as if they were blood. On Brielle’s seventh birthday, a two-year younger Lillian had saved up enough to buy a $13 cake. It was the cheapest of the cheap, the kind of cake where you could still taste the bitterness of economy in the frosting And when Lillian brought it out, clumsy as she was, it tumbled to the ground, a heap of broken dreams.

They sat there, tears mingling with laughter, making a pinky promise-when they had the means, they would feast on the finest cakes and cherish every birthday like a treasure.

So, when the Haywoods found Brielle on her tenth birthday, she didn’t hesitate to bring Lillian along, pleading with the Haywoods to enroll them both in school.

In different classes but never apart, the girls were inseparable. But the corrupting allure of wealth can change a person. Those who once fretted over every meal suddenly found themselves in opulence, and their hearts hardened.

“Miranda, Lillian’s cheeks flushed with guilt, her eyes brimming with tears.

Brielle thought of the used condoms in the car, and the deliberately left lipstick, “Mom, since you like her so much, why don’t you adopt her as your daughter?”

It was a retort made in anger. Yet, a flicker of serious consideration passed through Miranda’s eyes.

Brielle felt a sting of humiliation, sharp as a thorn. She’d forgotten that in this house, Lillian was the golden child. Even the house staff couldn’t stop singing her praises.

Hadn’t Brielle, too, given her heart and soul to Lillian?

Lillian, always playing the damsel with her fragile façade.

“I’m giving you three days to move out of that villa,” Brielle suppressed her anger, feeling as if her mouth was filled with the taste of blood.

Ironically, she always felt like she burdened her family by bringing Lillian back. So, no matter what she did, she wanted to be the best. However, her achievements couldn’t compare to Lillian’s sweet words.

In the end, she was the outcast in her own home.

Lillian, hearing her words, sneered inwardly. The villa had been a gift from Spencer-what right did Brielle have to command her?

While harboring such resentment in her heart, she wore a look of grievance on her face, biting her lips.

“Bri, please don’t be angry, I’ll do as you say.”

Brielle had no desire to watch the performance. She stood up, “I won’t keep you for dinner.”

Chapte Miranda, looking on, held Lillian close, “Bri, what’s gotten into you tonight?”

“Miranda, it’s my fault. I had nowhere to live, so I moved into Spencer’s villa in the suburbs. Bri’s misunderstood, Lillian explained.

Disappointment filled Miranda’s eyes, “Spencer has so many properties. Lillian can stay in one. It is no big deal. If you secure him as your husband, all his assets will be eventually.”

yours “Mom,” Brielle stood tall, her voice steady, “then maybe Lillian should just marry Spencer.”

“You!” Miranda’s chest heaved with anger. “You’re becoming more and more outrageous.”

Brielle felt her heart tear open. All those years of obedience, the Haywoods wouldn’t tolerate even the slightest mistake from her. On the other hand, Lillian, who was always clumsy and had consistently poor grades, was seen by them as naturally innocent and in need of protection.

“Why don’t you ask Lillian what she’s done? And while you’re at it, check how many times she’s slept with Spencer in that villa.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Miranda’s hand flew across her face.

Brielle didn’t see it coming. She touched her swiftly swelling cheek in disbelief, a harsh pain making her bend slightly to cope. A bitter laugh escaped her as she grabbed her bag, “When Lillian moved out at eighteen, you all were heartbroken. If that’s the case, I might as well make it a double celebration and leave Spencer to her. After all, you wanted to adopt her as your daughter. I won’t disturb your celebration.”

“Brielle!” Miranda roared, unable to believe the daughter who had always been so compliant could be so confrontational.

Brielle was already at the door, Lillian’s sobs, apologies, and Miranda’s comforting words chasing after her.

Miranda didn’t believe Lillian capable of such things. “I can’t believe Bri would fabricate such lies to slander you,” Miranda said.

The irony wasn’t lost on Brielle as she clutched her bag, white-knuckled.

Once in her car, she licked her dry lips, tasting blood. With a press on the gas, she drove away.

Arriving at her apartment building, she saw Spencer’s Porsche, him leaning against it, smoking. His greeting was anything but warm. “Lillian’s missing, Brielle. Did you hassle. her again? I told you, she’s with me because I forced her. If you’ve got a problem, take it out on me, not her. She genuinely cares about you, and treats you like a sister.”

Without missing a beat, Brielle slapped him hard.

Spencer’s head turned with the impact, his chiseled jawline swelling. The slap was merciless, leaving him dazed. After a few seconds, he touched his face, Incredulous, “You hit me?”

“Didn’t you say to take my anger out on you?” Brielle spat back.

Spencer’s lips trembled, “You bitch-”

He couldn’t finish his curse, his mind a blank slate of fury.

“Thank you. I feel much better now,” Brielle said, stepping past him into the building.

“Brielle!!” Spencer shouted, kicking a trash can in a fit of rage.

Brielle ignored him, entering her apartment to calm her boiling emotions. She even started working overtime, going through company emails on her laptop.

Since her graduation, she’d been positioned at Spencer’s side, naively thinking the Dorsey family saw her as one of their own. It was only now that she realized how masterfully Faith had played her hand.

Michael had all the young bloods up and at ’em early, placing them in Dorsey International with high hopes they’d make something of themselves.

Brielle, the top student from Beaconsfield College with a degree in Finance, was a wiz. With her smarts, Spencer’s performance outshone all the other greenhorns. The glory was Spencer’s, and so was the year-end bonus. What was in it for her?

In the future, if Spencer grew tired of her, the Dorsey family could dissolve the engagement with an air of superiority. All those years she’d put in they’d amount to zilch.

What a genius move.

–

Brielle pressed her lips together, trembling with rage. In the company’s internal network, she found Max’s private profile and shot off an email with her whistle-blowing letter attached. It was a detailed account of Spencer’s embezzlement and negligence.

Brielle waited and waited, until she dozed off on her desk, but no reply came.

When she woke up, it was 6 a.m. and her eyes were sore. She saw a new message notification on her computer screen. With a surge of excitement, she clicked it open, only to be met with one icy word-

“Rejected.”

That son of a bitch.